Ben Old

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RR
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Not a very auspicious post to start a player thread with but

April 09, 2023 14:58
Friar Tuck
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Not a very auspicious post to start a player thread with but

I did wonder why he’s been less effective this season than last, especially after performing excellently in the Australia Cup.
April 09, 2023 17:28
martinb
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I suspected something was different, because he really looked the real deal at the end of last season.
April 09, 2023 17:56
WanderingSheep
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martinb
I suspected something was different, because he really looked the real deal at the end of last season.

Inconsistency is common with youth but I felt he was better than that. So I’m pleased that there’s a legitimate reason for it rather than being a flash in the pan. Wish him well.
April 09, 2023 21:43
coochiee
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Based on what happened with Singh in Germany, right thing to do maybe to not play Old remainder of the season?? Sounds like the type of injury that is only fixed with long term rest away from kicking a football.


April 10, 2023 00:39
newzealandpower
Marquee
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Nasty, nasty issue. Been there and struggled for two years to overcome it. Hopefully he gets treatment and isn't rushed back into the squad until fully healed
April 10, 2023 12:28
RR
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Bossi Insider
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February 07, 2024 14:55
theprof
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Cheify said as much in his last interview, needs two weeks off his feet. Was very worried when he went down clutching his ankle on Tuesday.
February 07, 2024 15:04
RR
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theprof
Cheify said as much in his last interview, needs two weeks off his feet. Was very worried when he went down clutching his ankle on Tuesday.

Hopefully once Salas is available, he can get the rest he needs. 
February 07, 2024 15:10
LG
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You might see the golf protégé on a course near you!!
February 07, 2024 21:25
Outpost
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Must have got tips from Bally on how to play on one leg.
February 07, 2024 21:29
coochiee
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March 06, 2024 00:02
Doloras
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Opinion Privileges revoked
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coochiee
I called it Crowded House syndrome and someone yelled at me lol
March 06, 2024 11:08
Mainland FC
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Flight of the Conchords could not be less Australian, in terms of its vibe and sense of humour.
March 06, 2024 13:07
coochiee
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Flight of the Conchords could not be less Australian, in terms of its vibe and sense of humour.

My newly found favourite guy here in QLD (father of school friend of my twins) is incredibly self-deprecating. At English/Irish, or NZ levels. But you are right it's rare in Australia. The brutal un PC put down, the more common humour take.

Australia's version of comedy news show "Have You Been Paying Attention" (the original) is a no holds barred, not much off limits effort. The show's host (Tom Gleisner - Working Dog Productions) goes back a long way in Australian comedy. For sure if it was in NZ, alot of it would be censored. Melanie Bracewell, Guy Montomery, Ray O'Leary, Urzila Carlson & Hayley Sproull are often on the Aussie version. Ray an easy target. I'm sure they notice the difference. 

The much loved, brilliant John Clarke (RIP & considered by many the best comic ever based in Aussie) made Kiwi comics popular in Oztraylia. Maybe Palmy North's best ever export. Sorry off topic

March 06, 2024 13:36 · Edited March 08, 2024 01:48
coochiee
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https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/3/7/ben-old-has-dribbled-his-way-into-golden-boy-status-at-the-wellington-phoenix

As we well know, the Phoenix have several outstanding youngsters in their squad. But there are three in particular: Ben Old, Alex Paulsen, and Finn Surman. Throwing it back to the mission statement of the Welly Nix Academy, those are the three guys with immediate potential to draw transfer fees from European clubs. Others have the capacity to get there with a couple more seasons under their belts, but these three are already there. Whether they stay another year or two or three, that’s up to them and how patient they want to be. But you can absolutely guarantee that foreign scouts have their names written down already.

Here’s a stat for you: There are nine players born in 2002 or later who have played at least 1300 minutes this season (as of the date of publishing here) and three of those players are from the Wellington Phoenix. Ben Old actually isn’t one of them, due to all the substitute appearances he made at the start of the season while they were managing his fitness, but he’s fast on his way having started nine of the past 13 matches, firmly establishing himself as a key player in his team’s quest for the Premiership.

[Those nine players, from youngest upwards: Lukas Kelly-Heald (Phoenix), Giuseppe Bovalina (Adelaide), Jake Girdwood-Reich (Sydney), Finn Surman (Phoenix), Mark Natta (Newcastle), Jacob Farrell (Central Coast), Alex Paulsen (Phoenix), Ryan Teague (Victory), Noah Botic (Western)... so the Nix are the only team with more than one and they’re top of the table, righto].

Giancarlo Italiano: “I think he’s growing every week. The reason why I used him for ninety [vs Adelaide], I’m trying to build his fitness up. Hes been injured for so long, we’ve had to manage that quite extensively. Our physio Cory Glover’s done an excellent job with him. For me, he’s going to be a vital player in our push to create a really good season. He’s the sort of player who needs a little bit of love but he also needs the space and the set-up around him to bring his best attributes out. That’s running with the ball, taking players on, having good players in front of him to combine.”

The other thing that The Chief said about Old is that he’s “such an exciting prospect that you’ll only see how good he is until he leaves and goes overseas”. The same can be said of Alex Paulsen and Finn Surman, to be fair. There’s a bubble around the A-League, especially with homegrown players, which makes it hard to envisage their place in the wider world... until they get there and suddenly the distance doesn’t seem so far. The last few years have seen a surge in younger A-League players finding their way to Europe which has given us a much clearer idea of where the A-League sits globally.

We don’t need to think about that right now, though. Current thoughts should be contained to the very special things that Old and the Wellington Phoenix are doing week to week as they chase their first ever piece of silverware, a feat that Old’s emergence has helped make possible. Embrace it. Savour it. And reflect on the other aspect of all of this: Confidence. Italiano’s note about Old needing “a bit of love” is a clue, because it’s amazing what a dose of belief can lead to. Shred away the doubt and hesitation and that can be the 1% that makes all the difference. That’s proving to be the case with Ben Old and it’s proving to be the case with this entire Wellington Phoenix squad.
March 08, 2024 01:47 · Edited March 08, 2024 02:15
number8
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C‘mon guys. The whole ,crowded  house‘ story is nonsense. We now since a while how good Old plays, this is no secret. Even if we woke up one morning and he turned out magically the best player on the planet, most Kiwis would not care. There would be one article in Stuff and five more people at the stadium before he leaves to Real Madrid.
March 09, 2024 09:48
coochiee
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Courtesy RR


April 06, 2024 14:24
RR
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I have nfi what these stats mean but Old is well ahead of pretty much everyone & people tell me that its good, so add a few more 0's onto his release clause Domey!
April 06, 2024 14:45
Marto
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Old still has a tendency to run with the ball too much, and with his head down.  

He had some good chances yesterday to off load and set up others but just kept on running.... to nowhere.  

Get that out of his game and he will be absolute class by kiwi standards.
April 07, 2024 22:15
martinb
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coochiee
Courtesy RR



And Pennington and Rufer better than average too! 
April 07, 2024 22:20
Procrastinixing
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Your Phoenix Men's goal of the season goes to this rocket of a strike from Ben Old!
April 30, 2024 20:31
Khalil Media
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He still has aspects of his game to iron out, and some of his decision making needs work - but it sounds like he's wrestled with a couple of injuries over the last 18 months.  If he can get those sorted over the off-season, and get through a proper pre season to be fully fit, I'm predicting next season will be his break out and he will be one of the dominant attackers across the league.  He has the potential to become too big for the A League, but a big performance on this stage is the perfect platform for progressing to a serious professional gig abroad.
April 30, 2024 21:00
RR
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coochiee
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Age 20, 38 ALM games, 6 goals. 4 goals this breakout season at MAC.
Biggest player transfer MAC have had in their short existence?

Old good enough to go to The Championship?
Age 21, 71 ALM games, 7 goals . 5 goals in this his breakout season.

Anyone know what Ben Old's passport situation is? I would think NZ's low FIFA rank would be the biggest hurdle for a move to the UK.
May 22, 2024 19:55
newzealandpower
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Transfermarkt says NZ citizenship only...
May 22, 2024 22:08
RR
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May 24, 2024 21:25
Half a Pint
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Yep he said about it in his man of the match interview after the all stars match that he hopes for a Europe move this offseason (he said hopefully this July or next year if not)
May 24, 2024 21:26
RR
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He was linked to a Danish move earlier this season, hopefully something comes from that interest. He needs to go somewhere that he can continue to get regular first team minutes, otherwise he is better off staying here for another season imo.
May 24, 2024 23:10
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Friar Tuck
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If Denmark is the go, then FC Nordsjaelland could be a good option. From the look of it they play a 433 so Oldie could get minutes at left wing or in either of the more advanced midfield positions.

According to transfermarkt they don’t have any out and put left wingers signed for next season yet. Their star LW Andres Schjelderup is on loan from Benfica.

They seem to be the best performing club after the heavyweights FCK, Brøndby and Midtjylland and it’s where Malia Steinmetz plays.

Midtjylland could also be an option though with the Reid and Kraev connections.
May 25, 2024 16:46
RR
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Bossi Insider
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This might help Ben Old get a UK move. Between the Olympics and OFC Nations Cup, he should rack up the 5 competitive appearances needed for a country with a FIFA rank outside the Top 50.
May 27, 2024 11:54
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Marto
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Friar Tuck
If Denmark is the go, then FC Nordsjaelland could be a good option. From the look of it they play a 433 so Oldie could get minutes at left wing or in either of the more advanced midfield positions.

According to transfermarkt they don’t have any out and put left wingers signed for next season yet. Their star LW Andres Schjelderup is on loan from Benfica.

They seem to be the best performing club after the heavyweights FCK, Brøndby and Midtjylland and it’s where Malia Steinmetz plays.

Midtjylland could also be an option though with the Reid and Kraev connections.

I actually think with the trajectory he's on he's better off playing another season or two in NZ/Australia and then going straight into the top leagues of Europe skipping Scandinavia all together. 

He has the potential to play at the very top I think. 
May 30, 2024 07:17
and 2 others
RR
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Bossi Insider
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Just re-reading those stuff about ESC's and seems I misunderstood things originally. With the A-League moving up to Band 5, it removes the need for the international caps (which is how Paulsen can sign for Bournemouth I think). You just need to have played 5 A-League matches to qualify.

So Old should be sweet to sign for an English team, if any are interested.

He gets a mention in this article https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2024/05/30/scouting-the-a-league-a-new-competition-opened-up-by-gbe-changes/
June 02, 2024 17:15 · Edited June 02, 2024 17:17
KiwiMancunian
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Trialist
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June 12, 2024 15:49
and 2 others
RR
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Bossi Insider
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Well this is a very exciting development. 
June 12, 2024 15:56
wilbaker
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That would be a brilliant move for him! France is probs the weakest out of the top 5 leagues and they do give a lot of minutes to younger players + joining a newly promoted team you'd think he won't be too far down the pecking order.
June 12, 2024 16:05
loyalgunner
Marquee
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Wow I didn't expect that. My first thought was to hold out until after the Olympics when maybe he'd be worth more.  But actually, we are likely going to get absolutely monstered out there, especially by France, so maybe that strategy could backfire.
June 12, 2024 16:22
coochiee
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Yes Saint-Etienne (3rd in Ligue 2) were promoted via the playoffs.
https://us.soccerway.com/national/france/ligue-2/20232024/regular-season/r77539/

Whilst Foley's Lorient (2nd last in Ligue 1) were relegated. Probably means Paulsen won't be being loaned to Lorient with them dropping a division.

Anyway that's the 2nd reasonable rumour about Old (after a Danish club story), so looks a good chance he will be moving on. I think Surman is even more likely to go, given his contract expires in 12 months, and the Nix will want a return on him.

June 12, 2024 16:26
martinb
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To be a bit callous though, attackers are often an impulse purchase too. They do something amazing or fun and someone gets excited.

CBs are a renewal. They need people shifted on or on the way out. They are often considered a foundation transfer. It’s rarer for someone to pick up a CB as the cherry on top for their squad. They’re the first position you look at and very thought through I’d say…

That said I think Ben Old should have and has been attracting attention for a considerable amount of time!
June 12, 2024 16:34 · Edited June 12, 2024 16:34
AucklandPhoenix
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Be amazing if the rumour is true.
June 12, 2024 16:38
WanderingSheep
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Exciting opportunity if it come to fruition! Tough to replace, but he’s deserved it.
June 12, 2024 17:52
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